Kunsthof-Passage

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Kunsthof-Passage
Görlitzer Straße / Alaunstraße, Neustadt
Dresden, September 2024

"The Kunsthof Passage (Art Courtyard Passage) that links Alaunstrasse 70 with Görlitzer Strasse 21-25 is the site of creative, colorful and diverse activity. Five courtyards are designed according to specific themes, and they house numerous restaurants and cafés, galleries and shops. Today no one remembers whether the impetus came from the challenge of revitalizing run-down backyards, or as part of a concept to combine living, work and leisure spaces. The Kunsthof Passage (Art Courtyard Passage) passageway is a place for all kinds of discoveries – for instance, in the Mythical Creatures courtyard – and invites you to interpret the detailed façade designs. In the Metamorphosis courtyard, for instance, observant visitors can see the slow transformation of 24 pieces of paper. In the Elements courtyard, on the other hand, the colorful architectural details on the walls – various downpipes – turn into musical instruments when it rains." (Art Courtyard Passage, Dresden.de)

Verdi’s Violin

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“Verdi’s Violin & Opera Box”
Piazzale Salvo D'Acquisto
Parma, May 2024

“A musical-themed playground has opened in Piazzale Salvo D'Acquisto! A mega violin and a child-sized musical theater have arrived just a stone's throw from the Casa della Musica , the Casa del Suono and the statue of Maestro Giuseppe Verdi sitting on the bench in Piazzale San Francesco: the ‘Verdi's Violin and Opera Box’ playground was inaugurated at the beginning of June 2022 and presents itself as a true work of art, created by the Danish company Monstrum, known for the unique pieces of craftsmanship it has installed all over the world.” (Verdi’s Violin & Opera Box, Parmakids.it)

Masaryčka building

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Masaryčka building by Zaha Hadid Architects, 2023
Na Florenci, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“With its facades now completed, the Masaryčka building in Prague is defined by circulation routes which will provide access to new civic spaces for the city. Accommodating the continued growth of the city’s corporate sector with office spaces designed to meet 21st-century working patterns, the 28,000 sq. m Masaryčka office and retail development incorporate seven stories within its eastern section and nine stories at its western end.” (Masaryčka Building, ArchDaily)

Ilaria del Carretto

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The tomb of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia, 1406c
Cathedral of San Martino
Piazza San Martino
Lucca, June 2024

“The tomb of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia of Siena, the earliest of his extant works was commissioned by her husband, the lord of Lucca, Paolo Guinigi, in 1406.” (Lucca Cathedral, Wikipedia)

Kranhäuser

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Kranhäuser (Crane Houses) by Hadi Teherani, 2009
Rheinauhafen
Cologne, September 2024

"Kranhaus (‘crane house’, plural Kranhäuser) refers to each one of the three 17-story buildings in the Rheinauhafen of Cologne, Germany. Their shape, an upside-down ‘L’, is reminiscent of the harbor cranes that were used to load cargo from and onto ships, two of which were left standing as monuments when the harbor was redesigned as a residential and commercial quarter in the early 2000s. Each building is about 62 m (203 ft) high, 70.2 m (230 ft) long, and 33.75 m (110.7 ft) wide. They were designed by Aachen architect Alfons Linster and Hamburg-based Hadi Teherani of BRT Architekten. Construction began on 16 October 2006, and the first building was completed in 2008." (Kranhaus, Wikipedia)

Fontana dei Due Fiumi

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Fontana dei Due Fiumi (Two Rivers Fountain) by Giuseppe Graziosi, 1938
Largo Garibaldi
Modena, May 2024

“We recommend starting out at the monumental Due Fiumi (Two Rivers) Fountain on Largo Garibaldi. It was inaugurated in 1938 when the city's new aqueduct went into operation. The Due Fiumi Fountain is considered Graziosi’s most prestigious work. Designed to beautify Modena’s eastern entrance, this sculpture displays a series of circular travertine basins and two bronze figures, one female and one male, which respectively symbolize the Secchia and the Panaro Rivers. The male figure, who faces east toward the river, is an imposing young man who pours water from an earthen jar with one hand and, with the other, carries a tree branch across his shoulders. The female figure is a young woman, a symbol of fertility, who faces the city. She holds a sheaf of grain that spouts a jet of water. Impressive and imposing, the fountain merits an evening visit as well, when it is expertly illuminated by spectacular beams of light.” (The Due Fiumi ‘Two Rivers’ Fountain, VisitModena)

Einheitsmännchen

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“Einheitsmännchen” by Ottmar Hörl, 2015
Theodor-Heuss-Allee
Frankfurt, September 2024

“‘Einheit’ means the German unification and ‘Männchen’ is a little man. In 2015, Hessen hosted the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of German reunification. On this occasion, the Hessian State Chancellery invited Ottmar Hörl to develop an art installation for the project ‘Overcoming Borders’. Ottmar Hörl takes up the well-known traffic light man; originally developed by Karl Peglau in 1961 and reformulates it. The two-dimensional pictogram of a green little man was transformed into a three-dimensional, fully plastic, monochrome figure – the ‘Einheitsmännchen’. It´s cosmopolitan, friendly and positive looking into the future, smiling, reaching out for each other’s hands, energetic, dynamic, courageous and resolute. On the occasion of ING-DiBa’s 50th birthday in 2015, the Bank supported the celebration of the 25th anniversary of German unity at its headquarters in Frankfurt. The 3. 50 metre high ‘Einheitsmännchen’ is the only special edition of the ING-DiBa made in orange by the artist Ottmar Hörl.” (Einheitsmännchen, Vagabundler)

Francis and Adelgunde

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Obelisk by Pietro Marchelli, 1843
Piazza Gioberti
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“In 1842 the piazza at the northern end of Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, just north of Palazzo Ducale, was named Piazza Adelgonda in honour of Queen Adelgunde (wife of King Francis I); it was renamed Piazza Gioberti in 1859. When Francis and Adelgunde visited Reggio in May 1842, Piazza Adelgonda was decorated with arches, obelisks, and Chinese pagodas for the occasion. In 1843 a granite obelisk designed by Pietro Marchelli was erected in the middle of the piazza in honour of Francis and Adelgunde. The obelisk is 17.75 metres high and is surmounted by a five-pointed gilt metal star.” (Obelisk in Piazza Gioberti, A Jacobite Gazetteer)

Altes Rathaus

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Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
Markt (Market Square)
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), which dominates the east side of the Markt square in Leipzig's district Mitte, is considered one of Germany's most important secular Renaissance buildings. At the rear is the Naschmarkt (Sweet market). The mayor and the municipal administration have been housed in the New Town Hall since 1905. The Old Town Hall is a landmark of Leipzig and is generally considered to be an extremely beautiful building. The impression of beauty comes from length, colour, uniformity and proportions. With two storeys and a length of more than 300 feet, the building would be long but not high, if there would not be the steep roof. The eaves edge is low, so the roof contributes significantly to the height. As far as its effect is concerned, it is receded into the background by the row of wall dormers (6 on the Marktplatz side, 7 on the Naschmarkt side) with their connecting horizontal lines.” (Old Town Hall, Wikipedia)

The Great Adventure

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“The Great Adventure” by Bruno Cassinari, 1983
Via del Tempio
Piacenza, May 2024

“Monument to The Great Adventure (Monumento La Grande Avventura) in the city of Piacenza is very simple. But, nevertheless, it symbolizes a significant event in the history of the commune. In 1982, a small town celebrated a great date – 2100 years from the day of its foundation. It was decided to create a monument to celebrate it. But its installation was a little late, and the monument was opened already in the following year – 1983. Its author was the local sculptor Bruno Cassinari. The monument is quite simple, and even schematic. On top there is a bronze sculpture of a woman on horseback. The rider is depicted in the moment when she stops the animal. The pedestal is made of granite, and lines from the poems of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo are engraved on it. The monument is located between the old noble mansions of the 18th century.” (Monument to The Great Adventure, IGotoWorld)

Katy's Garage

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Katy's Garage
Alaunstraße, Neustadt
Dresden, September 2024

"The authentic, alternative scene club is located in a former tire workshop, directly in the crossroads of the Kneipenviertel Neustadt. From Wednesday to Saturday, Katy’s Garage offers a varied program, which includes live music, theme nights, table kicker. Whether Latin, Drum & Bass, Darkwave, Rock, Reggae or Pop – in the weekly program you will for sure find something for yourself. Already a long time that parties here became a cult and Katy’s Garage takes care daily to have full place with guests." (Katy's Garage, ESNcard)

Mercato della Ghiaia

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Mercato della Ghiaia
Piazza Ghiaia
Parma, May 2024

“This is the largest covered market in the city and is one of the most characteristic places. You can find all sorts of things here, from clothes to wickerwork items and household goods. The most attractive stalls are those selling fruit and vegetables or flowers. The city looks like a garden of color with these rows of brightly colored stalls. Most of the stall holders are ‘real’ local people.” (Mercato della Ghiaia, CitySeeker)

Čeští muzikanti

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Čeští muzikanti (Czech musicians) by Anna Chromy & Jan Wagner, 2002
Senovážne náměstí, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“Czech musicians, also known as the fountain on Senovážné náměstí, the Four Rivers fountain, the Pražské Jaro fountain or the Dancing Fountain, is an exterior stone fountain with four bronze sculptures with a musical motif. It is located on Senovážné náměstí in the Nové Město district of the Prague 1 district. The Czech musicians fountain was created by Czech painters and sculptors Anna Chromy (1940–2021), who created a bronze sculpture, and Jan Wagner (1941–2005), who created his own fountain from Hořice sandstone. The work was created in 2002. The sculpture on the fountain depicts musicians and musicians as individual streams. The sculpture with the mandolin is the Indian Ganges, the sculpture with the flute is the South American Amazon, the sculpture with the violin is the European Danube, and the sculpture with the French horn is the North American Mississippi.” (Czech musicians, Wikipedia)

San Giusto

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Church of San Giusto
Piazza San Giusto
Lucca, June 2024

"San Giusto is a church in Lucca, Tuscany, central Italy. Built over a pre-existing church, it dates to the second half of the 12th century. Its titular is the 12th century Italian, Giustino Salce, whence the name San Giusto. The present building has a nave and two aisles with apses. The façade has a mixed decoration, with white and black stripes in the upper part, forming two small superimposed loggias at the top. The central portal was made by Guidetto's workshop, and, among the other details, includes two twisting atlases (one now partly missing) supporting two protruding lions at the sides of the lunette. The rest of the decoration has vegetable motifs or fantastic creatures. The two roots of the internal archivolt (which has black and white rows like in the upper façade) lay on two cubes with masks of Classic origin. The side portals have less ornate decorations, mostly limited to the capitals and similar to that of the central one. The latter is surmounted by a double mullioned window, while above the side ones are simpler oculi. The apse's exteriors features Lombard bands and two orders of single mullioned windows. The interior was remade during the 17th century in Baroque style." (San Giusto, Wikipedia)

Friedrich Wilhelm III

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Equestrian monument to King Frederick William III of Prussia
Heumarkt
Cologne, September 2024

"In 1815, the territories which became constituted in 1822 as the Rhine Province came under the rule of the Prussian king. The annexation by Prussia marked the close of 20 years of war with France - first of all under the Revolution regime and then under Napoleon. Following the Congress of Vienna, the reign of Frederick William III came to be seen as a time of peace as well as economic and cultural progress. In honor of the monarch towns and provinces erected monuments with the equestrian statue of him. In 1860 and 1862, two competitions to build such a monument in Cologne were still undecided. Ultimately, the initiators awarded the contract to Gustav Hermann Blaeser and Hermann Schievelbein. After the death of the latter, Blaeser redesigned the pedestal. When he, too, died, the task of completing the relief and the missing figures was taken over by Alexander Calandrelli. The official inauguration of the equestrian statue of king Frederick William III finally took place on 26 September 1878." (Equestrian monument to King Frederick William III of Prussia, Cologne Tourism)

Statue of the Bonissima

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Statue of the Bonissima
Piazza Grande
Modena, May 2024

“Most likely the statuette represented honesty in the trade "bona esma" or good esteem, good measure, in fact it is thought that it held a balance and was placed on a base with the various units of measurement engraved on it. The word "bunessma" in Modenese dialect is still today synonymous with a person known by all and also with a gossip and curious person. In fact, the statue of the bonissima is placed in a point where it seems to see and control everything that happens in the square.” (Who is the Bonissima?, Pupillae Art Dolls)

Ring der Statuen

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Ring der Statuen (Circle of Statues) by Georg Kolbe, 1954
Rothschildpark, Reuterweg
Frankfurt, September 2024

“There is another work by Georg Kolbe in Rothschild Park: the Ring of Statues. Seven larger-than-life bronze sculptures and 14 basalt columns form a circle, in the middle of which there is an echo effect. The figures are assigned ‘roles’: young woman, guardian, chosen one, amazon, descending, standing youth and musing. Despite this characterization, the figures correspond to the same body ideal, which combines an antiqued formal language with harmony and symmetry. Overall, the young men and women convey the impression of melancholy and sadness in their reserve and thoughtfulness. Although it was created during the Nazi era, it is questionable whether the group of figures would have been liked by the regime. Not expressive enough, too vulnerable, too passive and too thoughtful? Georg Kolbe's work in Frankfurt spans his early as well as his late work. In private letters he criticized the National Socialist regime, but as an artist he accepted public commissions.” (Ring der Statuen, Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Frankfurt)

Baptistery of St. John the Baptist

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Battistero di San Giovanni Battista (Baptistery of St. John the Baptist)
Piazza Prampolini
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“The Baptistery of St. John the Baptist is a Catholic place of worship located in Piazza Prampolini, in the historic centre of Reggio Emilia. Its foundation is traced back by Azzari to 1039, under the bishopric of Sigifredo II. Between 1487 and 1492 the building was rebuilt in Renaissance style and incorporated into the episcopal palace by will of bishop Bonfrancesco Arlotti. Finally, in 1880, a restoration was carried out which gave the façade its current appearance. Between 1981 and 1989 the Baptistery underwent a major restoration which revealed the fifteenth-century parts that had been hidden over the following centuries. The Baptistery is to the left of the city cathedral, incorporated into the bishop's palace. The façade is flanked by two candelabra columns surmounted by pinnacles. A crown of hanging arches follows the gabled roof. At the centre of the façade there is a rose window and, to the right of the latter, a small cell with a bell. The portal has a strong splay with smooth and twisted columns that follow the round arch. In the lunette above the door is carved the baptism of Christ attributed to Spani or Bigi.” (Baptistery of St. John the Baptist, Wikipedia)

Goethedenkmal

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Goethedenkmal (Goethe Monument) by Carl Seffner & Max Bischoff, 1909
Naschmarkt
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Goethe Monument has stood on the Naschmarkt since June 28, 1903. It commemorates Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832), who came to Leipzig in 1775 at the age of 16 to study law and stayed here for three years. The statue shows the poet as a gallant young student in rococo costume. Anna Katharina (Käthchen) Schönkopf and Friederike Oeser are depicted as bust portraits on the medallions attached to the plinth.” (Goethe monument on the Naschmarkt, City of Leipzig)

Palazzo del Governatore

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Palazzo del Governatore
Piazza dei Cavalli
Piacenza, May 2024

“Palazzo del Governatore is a neoclassic-style palace located facing Piazza dei Cavalli in the historic center of Piacenza, northern Italy which now houses the town's chamber of commerce. The facade is flanked by two bronze equestrian statues sculpted by Francesco Mochi and depicting the Farnese Dukes of Parma: Ranuccio (1612–20) and his father, Alexander (1620-1629). Across the piazza is the Gothic-style Palazzo Comunale and the two equestrian statues of Farnese dukes, Alessandro and Ranuccio. After pavement was place in the Piazza Cavalli, it was decided to rebuild the government offices located in the buildings at this site. The prior buildings had been erected by the then-Sforza rulers of Piacenza to house the local governor. That structure had an open portico, which was enclosed and now houses a number of businesses. The architect Lotario Tomba (1749-1823) completed the design with corner towers and a roofline with statues and vases; construction began in 1781, and the facade was completed by 1788.” (Palazzo del Governatore, Wikipedia)

Goldene Reiter

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Goldene Reiter (Golden Rider) by Jean-Joseph Vinache, 1736
Neustädter Markt
Dresden, September 2024

“The Golden Knight is the best known sculpture in Dresden, at night, the gilding reflects light and is visible from the other side of Elbe from the Brühl’s Terrace. The statue shows the Saxon Elector Frederick Augustus I, known as Augustus the Strong, who became king of Poland. Supposedly, he was physically very strong and fathered over 350 children. August’s importance is very much in evidence Dresden’s appearance today. He arranged for the building of, for example, the Zwinger, Augustus Bridge and the Japanese Palace. He collected the vast art collections and became famous as a collector of porcelain.” (The Golden Knight, Dresden)

Filippo Corridoni

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Monument to Filippo Corridoni by Alessandro Marzaroli, 1927
Piazza Filippo Corridoni
Parma, May 2024

“Filippo Corridoni (19 August 1887 – 23 October 1915) was an Italian trade unionist and syndicalist. Born in Pausula, today Corridonia, he was a friend of future Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Between 24 and 25 January 1915, the Fasci d'Azione Rivoluzionaria were founded in the presence of Corridoni and Mussolini, among others. That same year, numerous left-interventionists were called up, including Corridoni and Mussolini themselves. In October 1915, Corridoni died during the Great War, being hit in the head by an Austrian-Hungarian Army bullet at the Trincea delle Frasche (Trench of the Branches) in San Martino del Carso. Between 1914 and 1915, he had been part of the left-interventionism movement that supported the Kingdom of Italy entry into the Great War, and was pictured taking part to a 1915 interventionist demonstration in Milan. This stance costed him, among others, the expulsion from the Unione Sindacale Italiana, whose Milanese section he was leading. These went on to join with Futurist interventionism, which was already creating unrest in the squares with Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Umberto Boccioni.” (Filippo Corridoni, Wikipedia)

Jubilejní synagoga

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Jubilejní synagoga (Jubilee Synagogue)
Jeruzalémská, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

"The Jubilee Synagogue (Czech: Jubilejní synagoga), also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue (Czech: Jeruzalémská synagoga), is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, located on Jerusalem Street in the Nové Město district of Prague, in the Czech Republic. It is the largest synagogue in Prague. The synagogue was built in 1906, designed by Wilhelm Stiassny and built by Alois Richte, the synagogue was initially named in honor of the silver Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The synagogue was built as a replacement for three synagogues (the Zigeiner, the Velkodvorská, and the New) destroyed between 1898 and 1906. Although built as a Reform synagogue (with an organ and a choir), it is nowadays used by the more traditional (Modern Orthodox) members of the Prague Jewish community, aligning itself officially with Orthodox Judaism. Still, compared to the famous other active synagogue of Prague, the Old New Synagogue, the Jubilee Synagogue is far less stringent in many ways." (Jubilee Synagogue, Wikipedia)

Santa Maria della Rosa

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Santa Maria della Rosa
Via della Rosa
Lucca, June 2024

"Santa Maria della Rosa is a Gothic- style, Roman Catholic church located on Via della Rosa in central Lucca, region of Tuscany, Italy. The church as we see it dates from a 1309-1333 construction at the site of an older oratory devoted to an icon of the Madonna, holding a Rose, and with St Peter and St Paul. The church was adjacent to the Roman walls of Lucca. One of the portals has sculpted ornaments of a Dragon breathing roses. The facade remained incomplete till the end of the 15th century. The main altarpiece is the famous icon of the Madonna of the Rose. The church was visited frequently during 1900 to 1903, by Saint Gemma Galgani. Every April 11, the anniversary of her death is celebrated." (Santa Maria della Rosa, Wikipedia)

Fastnachtsbrunnen

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Fastnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain) by Georg Grasegger, 1913
Gülichplatz, Obenmarspforten
Cologne, September 2024

“The carnival fountain created in 1913 by the Cologne artist Georg Grasegger is a dedication to the carnival. The dancing couples depicted represent the farm labourers and maids who represent the peasantry during carnival. The putto is enthroned on the fountain, beating a drum and smoking a pipe. The pipe refers to the sponsor of the child figure, the neighbouring former tobacco factory Haus Neuerburg. Finally, the fountain is adorned with a poem by Goethe, which reveals the poet's ambivalent relationship to the carnival activities. In the context of the fountain, Goethe's lines suggest that there is a carnival that is less orderly and tidy than the depiction of the fountain conveys and urges moderation. Even after more than 100 years, the carnival fountain embodies the question of how excessive the carnival activities can be.” (Carnival fountain, Cologne Tourism)

Church of San Giorgio

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Church of San Giorgio
Via Farini
Modena, May 2024

“Designed by architect and court designer Gaspare Vigarani in the mid-1600s, the Church of San Giorgio houses a number of Baroque paintings. Its high altar, dating back to 1666 and attributed to Antonio Loraghi, was embellished with an image of the Virgin, added some 30 years later. Vigarani also taught his sons the art of architecture and design – Modena-born Carlo later worked in the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. The facade, designed by Antonio Loraghi, was built in 1685. The cycle of marble statues are the work of Giovanni, Andrea and Tommaso Lazzoni.” (San Giorgio church, VisitModena)

MyZeil

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MyZeil by Massimiliano Fuksas, 2009
Zeil
Frankfurt, September 2024

“MyZeil is a shopping mall in the center of Frankfurt, Germany. It was designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. It is part of the PalaisQuartier development, with its main entrance on the Zeil, Frankfurt's main shopping street. It was officially opened on 26 February 2009 by the city mayor Petra Roth.” (MyZeil, Wikipedia)

Palazzo del Monte

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Palazzo del Monte
Piazza Prampolini
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“The Palazzo del Monte was the first seat of the Municipality of Reggio, which endowed it with the soaring tower in 1216. Sold to the Monte di Pietà in the 15th century, its hall remained the center of social life in Reggio: in fact, it was transformed into a theater in 1564 and inaugurated in the presence of Barbara of Austria, wife of Alfonso II. The hall was renovated over the centuries by Gaspare Vigarani and the Bibiena brothers, but was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1740.” (Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, TourER)

Der Jahrhundertschritt

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“Der Jahrhundertschritt” (The Step of the Century) by Wolfgang Mattheuer, 1984
Grimmaische Straße
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Step of the Century (in German: Jahrhundertschritt) is a bronze sculpture that was created by Wolfgang Mattheuer in 1984. It is considered one of the most important works of art in the GDR at the time of the division of Germany and is a parable of the turmoil of the 20th century.” (The Step of the Century, Wikipedia)

Palazzo Gotico

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Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo Gotico)
Piazza del Cavalli
Piacenza, May 2024

“Palazzo Comunale (also called Palazzo Gotico) is a Gothic style palace located facing Piazza del Cavalli in the historic center of Piacenza, northern Italy which now serves as the seat of municipal administration. The facade is flanked by two bronze equestrian statues sculpted by Francesco Mochi and depicting the Farnese Dukes of Parma: Ranuccio (1612–20) and his father, Alexander (1620-1629). Across the piazza is the late-Baroque or early neoclassic Palazzo del Governatore (1787) designed by Lotario Tomba. Recessed and to the right is the 17th-century Collegio dei Mercanti.” (Palazzo Comunale, Wikipedia)

Katholische Hofkirche

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Katholische Hofkirche (Cathedral of the Holy Trinity)
Schloßstraße
Dresden, September 2024

“Dresden Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Dresden, previously the Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony, called in German Katholische Hofkirche and since 1980 also known as Kathedrale Sanctissimae Trinitatis, is the Catholic Cathedral of Dresden. Always the most important Catholic church of the city, it was elevated to the status of cathedral of the Diocese of Dresden–Meissen in 1964. It is located near the Elbe river in the historic center of Dresden, Germany. It is one of the burial sites of the House of Wettin, including Polish monarchs.” (Dresden Cathedral, Wikipedia)

Le torri dei Paolotti

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The church of San Francesco di Paola
Strada D'Azeglio
Parma, May 2024

“The church of San Francesco di Paola, known as the Paolotti, is a deconsecrated Catholic place of worship with baroque forms, located in Strada Massimo D'Azeglio 85/A in Parma, in the province of the same name; together with the adjoining convent, it has been used for civil purposes since 1818. The facade of the church, characterized by two twin bell towers (the Paolotti towers), was built in 1689 by the commander of the Jerusalemites, Count Stefano Sanvitale, based on a design by the Piacenza architect Carlo Virginio Draghi. The church had a single nave, with three side chapels on each side. The order of the Minims was suppressed by the Napoleonic government in 1810 and in 1818 the Duchess Maria Luigia had the complex used as a hospital for ‘madmen’: it maintained this purpose until 1872, when the asylum was transferred to the former ducal palace of Colorno. In 1900, the pediatric hospital was created in the convent, one of the first in Italy, whose departments were transferred to the main hospital in 1927. Since 1936, the convent has hosted some departments of the University of Parma.” (Church of San Francesco di Paola, Wikipedia)

Trichodon

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"Trichodon" by Lukáš Rais, 2023
Náměstí Franze Kafky, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

"Lukáš Rais’ path to art was certainly not a straightforward one. First he worked as an electrician, then he trained as a cook and only then did he start studying at the Academy of Arts and Crafts in the sculpture studio. The relationship to technology is also reflected in his artwork, for which he uses pipes, which are building elements of pipelines for the chemical or food industry. Lukáš Rais buys them all over the world (Pakistan, China, Holland, Norway, Finland, Romania, Italy, Ukraine) and then bends and interweaves them to create abstract shapes. His team includes welders, machine mechanics, designers – that’s why his work is called industrial poetics." (Trichodon, Our Beautiful Prague)

Luigi Boccherini

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Luigi Boccherini by Enrico Pazzi, 1880
Piazza del Suffragio
Lucca, June 2024

"Ridolfo Luigi Boccherini (Lucca, 19 febbraio 1743 – Madrid, 28 maggio 1805) è stato un compositore e violoncellista italiano. Prolifico compositore, principalmente di musica da camera, fu il maggior rappresentante della musica strumentale nei paesi europei di lingua romanza durante il periodo del Classicismo. Nacque a Lucca in una famiglia di musicisti. Ebbe tre fratelli ballerini: Giovanni Gastone (affermatosi in seguito come librettista per Salieri, con ‘La secchia rapita’, e per Haydn, con ‘Il ritorno di Tobia’), Maria Ester (sposata con il coreografo Onorato Viganò, da cui nacque Salvatore) e Anna Matilde. Il giovane Luigi apprese la tecnica del suo strumento, il violoncello, dal padre Leopoldo, contrabbassista, e dall'abate D. F. Vannucci del seminario di Lucca, maestro di cappella." (Luigi Boccherini, Wikipedia)

Tünnes und Schäl

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“Tünnes und Schäl” by Wolfgang Reuter, 1974
An Groß St. Martin
Cologne, September 2024

“Tünnes and Schäl aren’t real people — but two bronze life-size statues of them stand in front of Groß St. Martin (Great St. Martin's Church) church in Cologne’s Altstadt (Old Town). They give us concrete, hands-on evidence that all over the world the collective human spirit is capable of taking on physical form. Tünnes’ nose has been rubbed shiny by the many hands that have touched and rubbed it. That’s because his nose is reputed to be a lucky charm. Tünnes and Schäl are the two legendary cult figures of the Hänneschen puppet theatre in Cologne. The founder of the first Hänneschen theatre, Johann Christoph Winters, created Tünnes in 1803, and Schäl joined Tünnes in 1850. Rumour has it that Schäl was created because there was a competing puppet theatre on the Schäl Sick, the ‘wrong side’ (right bank) of the Rhine. Tünnes is the short form of Antonius in the Rhineland dialect; he’s a naïve country bumpkin with a bulbous nose and a tranquil soul. Schäl is thinner and always wears a tailcoat. He’s a rascal, often sly and sometimes even underhanded. He considers himself smarter than Tünnes, but he isn’t. The word ‘schäl’ has more than one meaning in the local dialect. It refers both to Schäl’s squint and to his ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ behaviour. After all, he’s from the Schäl Sick, the ‘wrong’ side of our metropolis on the Rhine.” (Tünnes and Schäl statues, Cologne Tourism)

Maserati headquarters

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Maserati headquarters
Via Divisione Acqui
Modena, May 2024

“Maserati S.p.A. is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914 in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident.” (Maserati, Wikipedia)

Tower 185

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Tower 185 by Christoph Mäckler, 2011
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage
Frankfurt, September 2024

“Tower 185 is a 55-storey, 200 m (660 ft) skyscraper in the Gallus district of Frankfurt, Germany. As of 2023, it is the fourth-tallest building in Frankfurt and the fourth-tallest in Germany, tied with Main Tower. The anchor tenant of the tower is the German branch office of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has leased 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft). The tower was initially planned to be 185 m (607 ft) with 50 storeys; however, when plans changed to increase the height by an additional five floors, its name was not changed.” (Tower 185, Wikipedia)

Broletto

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“Broletto”
Vicolo Broletto
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“The passageway known as ‘sotto Broletto’ was built in 1488 with the opening to the public of the arch under the loggia, visible from the gallery itself. In ancient times it housed the cemetery area of ​​the Cathedral and, later, the canons' garden. The scenographic enhancement of the passageway, however, dates back to the eighteenth century when, based on a design by Francesco Fontanesi, the decoration of the entrance archway on the side of Piazza Prampolini was carried out, to the right of the Cathedral, above which one reads: ‘Stat regensium fides nulla sub aevo interora’ (The loyalty of the people of Reggio will never perish in any age). Along the Broletto, which is almost entirely covered, there are numerous shops of various kinds and premises, the ancient loggia of the canons and the southern side of the Cathedral, accessible via a portal, built in the sixteenth century and formed by two Romanesque column-bearing lions, originally inside and now considerably worn by time.” (Broletto, Reggio Emilia Welcome)

Schinkeltor

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Schinkeltor (Schinkel Gate)
Augustusplatz
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Schinkeltor (Schinkel Gate) at the west entrance to the New Augusteum of the University of Leipzig is the only surviving building fragment of the university complex on Augustusplatz from the 19th century. It is named after the Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781–1841). It is a listed building.” (Schinkeltor, Wikipedia)

Palazzo del Collegio dei Mercanti

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Palazzo del Collegio dei Mercanti
Piazza dei Cavalli
Piacenza, May 2024

“The Palazzo del Collegio dei Mercanti (Palace of the College of Merchants) is a baroque-style palace located recessed and to the left of the Palazzo Gotico facing Piazza dei Cavalli in the historic center of Piacenza, northern Italy. It now houses the offices of the town hall and council. The structure was erected in 1676-1697 by the guild of merchants in the city. The design was completed by Camillo Caccialupi. The ground floor has an open portico with twin columns. The entrance stairwell is frescoed and decorated with a statue of justice. The building became part of the municipal offices in the 19th century. During the 19th-century, the main hall was also used by the ‘Societa Filodrammatica’ for recitals, including the work ‘Demetrio’ by the abbot Bettinelli.” (Palazzo del Collegio dei Mercanti, Wikipedia)

Carolabrücke

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Carolabrücke (Carola Bridge)
Carolaplatz / Rathenauplatz
Dresden, September 2024

“The Carola Bridge is a bridge in Dresden across the Elbe river, built in 1967–71 replacing an earlier bridge, which had been built in 1895. The earlier Carola Bridge was destroyed by the SS on 7 May 1945, one day before VE Day, to prevent Soviet advance. A large section of the new bridge collapsed on 11 September 2024. The bridge collapsed between 2:58:04 a.m. and 2:59:05 a.m. (local time). No injuries were reported.” (Carola Bridge, Wikipedia)

Palazzo del Governatore

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Palazzo del Governatore
Piazza Garibaldi
Parma, May 2024

“The Palazzo del Governatore (Palace of the Governor) is a monumental building located in Piazza Garibaldi forming part of the civic center of Parma, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy. The building still houses municipal offices, as well as hosting cultural and social events. Across the Piazza Garibaldi (and the busy intersections of Stradas Mazzini, della Republica, Cavour and Luigi Carlo Farini) are a number of other prominent buildings including the Palazzi del Podesta and del Comune, and the neoclassical Church of San Pietro Apostolo.” (Palazzo del Governatore, Wikipedia)

Bedřich Smetana

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Bedřich Smetana by Josef Malejovský, 1984
Novotného lávka, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“The statue of Bedřich Smetana (Czech: Socha Bedřicha Smetany) is a sculpture of the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884) located outside the Smetana Museum in Prague, Czech Republic. It was unveiled on 4 June 1984, in the centenary year of his death. The sculpture, 235 cm high and weighing about a ton, was by professor Josef Malejovský and architect Bedřich Hanák.” (Statue of Bedřich Smetana, Wikipedia)

San Benedetto in Gottella

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San Benedetto in Gottella
Piazza Bernardini
Lucca, June 2024

"San Benedetto in Gottella is a Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church located on piazza Bernardin in Lucca, region of Tuscany, Italy. The church is located on Piazza Bernardini, near the Palazzo Bernardini, on the route of the ancient decumanus maximus of Lucca. A church at the site was present by tenth century, but reconstructed in the 13th-century. The walls contain a mosaic of fragments from the earlier church. The façade is a mixture of white limestone and darker tan sandstones, formed by blocks of different size, with a round portal entrance. Above the entrance is a painted lunette. In 1817, the church became the home for the confraternity of carpenters. Among the works of art are an altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child with Saints Benedetto e Margherita by Benedetto Brandimarte." (San Benedetto in Gottella, Wikipedia)

Heinz Koffer

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“Heinz Koffer” by Heike Haupt
Hilton Cologne, Marzellenstraße
Cologne, September 2024

“Heinz Koffer is a tiny globetrotter who greets and says goodbye to international guests. Heinz has traveled far, done many good deeds, worked hard and has now finally found his permanent home at the Hilton Cologne. Heinz Koffer supports his colleagues day and night, despite wind and weather! The Hilton Cologne is a permanent home for him.” (Heinz Koffer, The Heinz World)

Piazza Antelminelli

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Fountain by Lorenzo Nottolini, 1832
Piazza Antelminelli
Lucca, June 2024

"In the centre of the square there is an area surrounded by marble columns joined by chains, from which the name Piazza dei Ferri derives, inside which there is a fountain, built in marble and in a circular shape, which Lorenzo Nottolini designed and had built in 1832. It, now connected to the municipal aqueduct, was originally supplied with water by the Nottolini aqueduct coming from the fresh springs of the Pisan mountains and taken in the Guamo area." (Piazza Antelminelli, Wikipedia)

OpernTurm

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OpernTurm (Opera Tower) by Christoph Mäckler, 2009
Bockenheimer Landstraße
Frankfurt, September 2024

“OpernTurm (Opera Tower) is a 43-storey 170 m (560 ft) skyscraper in the Westend-Süd district of Frankfurt, Germany. The property is situated opposite Alte Oper on the corner of Bockenheimer Landstraße and Bockenheimer Anlage. The building was designed by Christoph Mäckler. The project developer was Tishman Speyer, a US firm that previously built the Sony Center in Berlin and the Messeturm in Frankfurt. The Opernturm consists of a 42-storey, 170 m (560 ft) tower, a 7-storey, 26 m (85 ft) podium building facing towards Alte Oper. Access is through an 18 m (59 ft) high lobby. The yellow-beige stone cladding of the facades was designed to fit in with the existing buildings surrounding Opernplatz.” (Opernturm, Wikipedia)

San Salvatore in Mustolio

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Church of San Salvatore in Mustolio
Piazza San Salvatore
Lucca, June 2024

"San Salvatore in Mustolio is a Romanesque- style, Roman Catholic church located on Piazza of the same name in central Lucca, region of Tuscany, Italy. A church at the site was documented since the first decades of the 11th-century, but the present layout derives from a 12th-century reconstruction. The lower 2 meters of the church used stones from the medieval walls of the town. The upper portion of the church was refurbished in the 19th century. The church was affiliated with the Canons of San Frediano in the 18th-century. The church was suppressed under Napoleonic occupation. In 1820, it was property of the Confraternity della Carità. The exterior facade has some 12th-century reliefs in the architraves: one depicting a Eucharistic meal; the second, a miracle of San Nicolao Prete signed by Biduino." (San Salvatore, Wikipedia)

Riquethaus

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Riquethaus by Paul Lange, 1909
Schuhmachergäßchen
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Riquet is one of the few remaining coffee houses in the city center and impresses with a mix of Art Nouveau and Chinese architecture. The former commercial building was built in 1908 and 1909 on behalf of the company Riquet & Co. and was one of the most modern and original new buildings in Leipzig at the time. The two copper-embossed elephant heads that flank the entrance door to the coffee house are the trademark of the Riquet company. Since the restoration, you can once again admire the listed interior of the corner shop in all its beauty.” (Kaffeehaus Riquet, Leipzig Travel)

Monument to Giacomo Puccini

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Monument to Giacomo Puccini by Vito Tongiani, 1994
Piazza Cittadella
Lucca, June 2024

"Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (22 December 1858 – 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long line of composers, stemming from the late-Baroque era. Though his early work was firmly rooted in traditional late-19th-century Romantic Italian opera, he later developed his work in the realistic verismo style, of which he became one of the leading exponents. His most renowned works are La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924), all of which are among the most frequently performed and recorded of all operas." (Giacomo Puccini, Wikipedia)